Salt River High School earned its first-ever
team track and field titles at the Canyon Athletic Association’s Division I championships May 12 and 13.

The boy’s high school team brought home the second-place trophy. In addition, seven athletes earned
12 medals—some even setting state and personal records—on both the men’s and women’s teams,
marking the first year the Eagles have ever taken home individual titles in the sport. First-year head
coach Katy Wilson qualified 16 athletes for the finals.

Senior Brandon Ventour took the top spot in four events: triple jump, high jump, 110 meter hurdles and
the 100 meter dash. He set three CAA state meet records in the process.

On Friday, junior April Wahpeta brought home the Eagles first-ever state track and field gold medal by
throwing the shot put 24-7.5, which set a personal record in the process. Wahpeta was ranked No. 7 in
state before the finals. Senior Jacob Schurz moved from the No. 4 spot to take first after launching the
discus 106-3, which also set a personal record. Late Friday evening, Ventour hit 44-01 in the triple jump,
erasing the previous state meet record of 41-10. The golden jump tweaked Ventour’s ankle, which had
him sitting out the rest of his events Friday.

Ventour’s ankle was back to normal Saturday morning to help him win the high jump with a recordsetting
6-8, beating the previous CAA state record by 6 inches. Ventour’s jump is the second-highest
mark at state championship meets in Arizona this year in all divisions, including the CAA and Arizona
Interscholastic Association. From the high jump Ventour hurried to catch the 110 meter hurdles event
where he ran 15.75, setting another CAA state meet record. Ventour then went neck-and-neck with
senior Jamison Meyerovitz from Paradise Valley Christian Prep to win the 100 meter dash in 11.55,
which set another personal record.

Wilson recorded the results of Ventour’s events and sent them to Central Arizona College, which
recently offered Venture a track and field scholarship.

To cap the individual championships for the Eagles, freshman Joaquin Suniga set a personal record and
won the 300 meter hurdles running 44.27.

“The kids proved to themselves that they had it in them to do it,” said Coach Wilson. “That was the most
meaningful part of the experience.”